Vehicles: child passenger restraint systems.

(1) Existing law requires a public or private hospital, clinic, or birthing center, at the time of discharge of a child who is less than 6 years of age or who weighs less than 60 pounds, to provide and discuss information on the current law requiring child passenger restraint systems with the parents or the person to whom the child is released. This bill would additionally require a public or private hospital, clinic, or birthing center, at the time the child is discharged, to provide and discuss contact information relating to obtaining, at no cost or low cost, information and assistance relating to child passenger restraint system requirements, installation, and inspection, including, among other things, the telephone number of the local office of the Department of the California Highway Patrol. The bill would provide that a public or private hospital, clinic, or birthing center does not have any additional obligation to provide patients with any assistance relating to child passenger restraint systems, other than providing the information specified. Because this bill would expand an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.